I had an idea and decided to throw together a feat that I had thought about. I’ve always liked the idea of a Ronin type PC that gave up traditional weapons and now serves as a protector to the ones he loves. Like the samurai who put down the sword but was forced to fight so he fought with a hammer.
Anyways, heres is my feat that the character could take or any character if they were choosing that archetype.
Sheild Wielder
So devoted to your cause to protect the ones you love, you shed your weapons for another form of protection. You gain the following benefits:
You can dual wield shields. (Choose only one shield to grant bonus to AC.)
You are considered always at half cover while you have both shields equipped. (+2 AC and Dexterity saving throws.)
When you take the Attack option your shields deal 1d8 bludgeoning damage and are considered finesse weapons for you. (+1, +2 and +3 shields are considered magical weapons for purposes to hit and damage calculation.)
If you have the Shield Master feat you are able to use the other shields AC to calculate for dexterity saving throws for spells against you.
As a reaction if you and a creature within five feet of you are forced to make the same dexterity saving throw they can take your saving throw result instead of there own.
Okay so any criticism is welcome I have no idea if this is balanced (Probably not) but I think combining this feat and the Shield Master feat would be a force to be reckoned with to make my PC still feel like they are useful.
I wrote a similar feat once and dealt with some of the same issues. Here are my observations.
In the PHD a shield is listed as weighing 6 lbs. Any weapon weighing that much never has Finesse, and some have Heavy.
I think 1d8 might be a bit high for what is essentially an Improvised Weapon without the feat.
Being able to duel wield shields with the caveat that only one of them boosts AC directly is nice.
Using AC bonus to shield as an attack/dam bonus as well also makes sense.
Granting 1/2 cover is nice. I think your fourth bullet that stacks it with Shield Master is a bit irrelevant on top of that.
The reaction is nice, but maybe if it just granted the ally half cover would be more fitting.
I agree with these points. Dialling the damage back and removing finesse allows for a bit more balance, otherwise you end up with Rogues being able to sneak attack with a shield if they have proficiency with it.
stacking with shield master (on top of the boost from half cover) would probably be a bit much. Already getting a bonus of +2 (equivalent to that of a standard shield) from half cover is probably enough.
What is the purpose of the feat? Is it to duel wield shields, or to fight with them? This might not be a feat but maybe to parts of a Fighter Subclass.
Right. Yeah, I don’t really want classes that are meant to do a ton of damage to get this feat.
Im thinking more of a character that put down their weapons to never use them again but now to protect their friends will wield shields. I just don’t want the characters to be useless and OOC everyone be upset that I brought a useless character and that I’m wasting everyone’s time.
Well it’s mainly to duel wield the shields but I don’t want the character to be useless and not be able to hit with them if the party is attacked by a group of goblins.
I feel like sitting at most tables people think the Ronin theme is cool until you get into a situation and go “Help me out here bud!” And I can’t because shields don’t have a damage allocated to them.
I feel like people OOC would actually be angry with this character after a few minutes of combat.
You might be right. Is there a way for me to add onto the Samurai Subclass? I would like to do that instead.
You would have to rewrite your own version of the Samurai Subclass.
Keep in mind, a shield should technically classify as an “Improvised Weapon” and therefore deal 1d4 bludgeoning/hit, but you could list it explicitly so there is no confusion.
The key features of this Feat might simply be:
Shields count as improvised weapons in your hands.
You can dual wield shields. Even though they are not light you may still make off hand Attacks with your second shield. (Choose only one shield to grant bonus to AC.)
You are considered always at half cover while you have both shields equipped. (+2 AC and Dexterity saving throws.)
Whenever you and a creature within five feet of you are forced to make the same dexterity saving throw, you may use your Reaction to grant the creature next to you the benefit of 1/2 cover.
This feat would mesh well with the Protection and Two Weapon Fighting Styles as well as the Duel Wielder and Shield Master Feats (and my feat too for that matter.)
Im thinking more of a character that put down their weapons to never use them again but now to protect their friends will wield shields....
I had a similar concept when I made my feat. It was inspired by the Character Guardian from the show Supergirl, (don’t judge me) even the name of my feat is a quote from the show. I still don’t see why it wouldn’t make sense for a Fighter. Mine works well for a Cleric/Paladin because then they have a hand free and don’t HAVE to take the Warcaster Feat (although why wouldn’t they?)
We might be hampering ourselves by envisioning the concept too narrowly. How about this:
The key features of this Feat might simply be:
You can wield a shield in each hand counting as a “Pair of Shields” a pair of shields counts as an improvised weapon with both the Two Handed and Heavy Properies.
When wielding a Pair of Shields, choose only one shield to grant bonus to AC.
You are considered always at half cover while you have both shields equipped.
Whenever you and a creature within five feet of you are forced to make the same dexterity saving throw, you may use your Reaction to grant the creature next to you the benefit of 1/2 cover.
This feat would mesh well with the Protection and Great Weapon Fighting Styles as well as the Great Weapon Master and Shield Master Feats (and my feat too for that matter.)
Honestly, NOBODY would say that a Variant Human with either of these feats (Duel Shielding or Pair of Shields) built as a Fighter Champion is useless in combat. You would just not have any Ranged combat.
It would also fit a Paladin (Oath of Redemption maybe to fit the “no weapons” concept?) who could add Divine Smite to the attacks. And with Compelled Duel you could force enemies to agro toward you. You would just have to be mindful of spells with Somatic Components or take the Warcaster Feat as well. (Compelled Duel is Verbal only.)
Wow. I appreciate how much thought you put into this. I’m legitimately going to copy and paste what you put down as my feat (hope that’s okay) I feel like this is perfect for what I envision. Thank you for the guidance!
No worries neighbor. May I inquire which one you are choosing, the Duel Shielding or the Pair of Shields? Also please check out my homebrews and feel free to add my “All a Hero Needs...” feat for your character too. You can find links embedded in the signature for my posts.
I had an idea and decided to throw together a feat that I had thought about. I’ve always liked the idea of a Ronin type PC that gave up traditional weapons and now serves as a protector to the ones he loves. Like the samurai who put down the sword but was forced to fight so he fought with a hammer.
Anyways, heres is my feat that the character could take or any character if they were choosing that archetype.
Sheild Wielder
So devoted to your cause to protect the ones you love, you shed your weapons for another form of protection. You gain the following benefits:
Okay so any criticism is welcome I have no idea if this is balanced (Probably not) but I think combining this feat and the Shield Master feat would be a force to be reckoned with to make my PC still feel like they are useful.
I wrote a similar feat once and dealt with some of the same issues. Here are my observations.
In the PHD a shield is listed as weighing 6 lbs. Any weapon weighing that much never has Finesse, and some have Heavy.
I think 1d8 might be a bit high for what is essentially an Improvised Weapon without the feat.
Being able to duel wield shields with the caveat that only one of them boosts AC directly is nice.
Using AC bonus to shield as an attack/dam bonus as well also makes sense.
Granting 1/2 cover is nice. I think your fourth bullet that stacks it with Shield Master is a bit irrelevant on top of that.
The reaction is nice, but maybe if it just granted the ally half cover would be more fitting.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I agree with these points. Dialling the damage back and removing finesse allows for a bit more balance, otherwise you end up with Rogues being able to sneak attack with a shield if they have proficiency with it.
stacking with shield master (on top of the boost from half cover) would probably be a bit much. Already getting a bonus of +2 (equivalent to that of a standard shield) from half cover is probably enough.
Please take a look at my homebrewed Spells, Magic Items, and Subclasses. Any feedback appreciated.
What is the purpose of the feat? Is it to duel wield shields, or to fight with them? This might not be a feat but maybe to parts of a Fighter Subclass.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Okay so dial back the damage to a d6 or d4?
Remove the finesse.
Cut out the Shield Master stuff.
Change the reaction to that player is considered in half cover when making there save?
What if I changed it to attacks or an AoE spell kinda like Sentinel but Instead of getting an attack you grant them half cover.
Right. Yeah, I don’t really want classes that are meant to do a ton of damage to get this feat.
Im thinking more of a character that put down their weapons to never use them again but now to protect their friends will wield shields. I just don’t want the characters to be useless and OOC everyone be upset that I brought a useless character and that I’m wasting everyone’s time.
Well it’s mainly to duel wield the shields but I don’t want the character to be useless and not be able to hit with them if the party is attacked by a group of goblins.
I feel like sitting at most tables people think the Ronin theme is cool until you get into a situation and go “Help me out here bud!” And I can’t because shields don’t have a damage allocated to them.
I feel like people OOC would actually be angry with this character after a few minutes of combat.
You might be right. Is there a way for me to add onto the Samurai Subclass? I would like to do that instead.
Velcro,
You would have to rewrite your own version of the Samurai Subclass.
Keep in mind, a shield should technically classify as an “Improvised Weapon” and therefore deal 1d4 bludgeoning/hit, but you could list it explicitly so there is no confusion.
The key features of this Feat might simply be:
This feat would mesh well with the Protection and Two Weapon Fighting Styles as well as the Duel Wielder and Shield Master Feats (and my feat too for that matter.)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I had a similar concept when I made my feat. It was inspired by the Character Guardian from the show Supergirl, (don’t judge me) even the name of my feat is a quote from the show. I still don’t see why it wouldn’t make sense for a Fighter. Mine works well for a Cleric/Paladin because then they have a hand free and don’t HAVE to take the Warcaster Feat (although why wouldn’t they?)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
We might be hampering ourselves by envisioning the concept too narrowly. How about this:
The key features of this Feat might simply be:
This feat would mesh well with the Protection and Great Weapon Fighting Styles as well as the Great Weapon Master and Shield Master Feats (and my feat too for that matter.)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Honestly, NOBODY would say that a Variant Human with either of these feats (Duel Shielding or Pair of Shields) built as a Fighter Champion is useless in combat. You would just not have any Ranged combat.
It would also fit a Paladin (Oath of Redemption maybe to fit the “no weapons” concept?) who could add Divine Smite to the attacks. And with Compelled Duel you could force enemies to agro toward you. You would just have to be mindful of spells with Somatic Components or take the Warcaster Feat as well. (Compelled Duel is Verbal only.)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Wow. I appreciate how much thought you put into this. I’m legitimately going to copy and paste what you put down as my feat (hope that’s okay) I feel like this is perfect for what I envision. Thank you for the guidance!
No worries neighbor. May I inquire which one you are choosing, the Duel Shielding or the Pair of Shields? Also please check out my homebrews and feel free to add my “All a Hero Needs...” feat for your character too. You can find links embedded in the signature for my posts.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Pair of Shields and okay ill check it out!
Cool, thank you
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
This is relevant to my interests.